Hi!

Jamie Millard is a co-executive director for Pollen, a digital platform that builds better-connected communities. She is ultimately responsible for the development, implementation, and sustainability of the organization's core strategic activities: profiling individuals' stories, sharing community-curated opportunities, and hosting experience-driven events.

As an extension of Jamie's work at Pollen, she serves on a Greater MSP task force to address the retention and attraction of emerging talent in our region. Jamie has been identified as a "2015 40 Under 40" by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, as a "100 People to Know in 2015" by the Twin Cities Business Magazine, and as a top four "2014 Business & Industry Newsmaker" also by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Nationally, Jamie was recognized in the Huffington Post as one of four millennial leaders, “doing important work to move us toward a more just and equitable society.”

In addition to her dream job, Jamie is a current member, and former board chair, of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network — Twin Cities. In 2009, Jamie co-founded the literary arts magazine Paper Darts, which is now a premier Twin Cities literary institution and has published more than 600 writers and artists.

When not co-collaborating on new ventures (which is rare), you’ll find Jamie walking her dogs or obsessing over the newest tech gadget or video game.

YNPN-TC is made up of young nonprofit professionals who see the value in being intentional about professional development, and in building a peer support network to be more effective change-makers for the good of our communities. Being a member of YNPN-TC has introduced me to some of the most talented and creative minds in our social sector.

I served as the organization's board chair in 2013 and 2014, and I was responsible for inspiring stewardship in fellow board members and volunteers.

Pollen is a digital platform that builds better-connected communities. Founded in a belief that every connection begins with a story, Pollen’s platform centers around featuring the remarkable stories that make up a community through media-rich, nonfiction narrative. Bringing stories into action, Pollen’s platform also collects and shares hundreds of community-curated opportunities like the best jobs, events, and member updates.

When individuals contribute to their community through absorbing its stories and taking action by sharing opportunities, it provides a space for communities to become better connected.

Founded in August of 2009, Paper Darts has become much more than the original 24 page zine we printed, assembled, and bound with a Singer sewing machine in our living rooms. Four years after me and my fellow co-founders first launched, we have expanded to include a publishing press, a creative agency for freelance hire, two additional talented staff members, and many wonderful volunteers.

Paper Darts has published five print magazines and one book. The organization has featured the work of more than 600 national and international artists.

RECENT HAPPENINGS

To discuss how American culture treats the act of rape, victims of rape, and perpetrators of rape, Kate Harding, author of Asking For It, joined MPR News' Kerri Miller for the Friday Roundtable. Jamie Millard, the co-executive director of Pollen, and Traci Thomas-Card the prevention program coordinator for The Aurora Center at the University of Minnesota, also joined the conversation.

Every seven minutes, someone in America commits a rape.

That's one of the stark statistics behind Kate Harding's new book, "Asking For It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture — and What We Can Do About It."

Harding analyzes everything from how law enforcement investigates rape cases to how sex is portrayed on TV. She also delves into the issue of sexual assault on college campuses. Many colleges and universities have been in the news for mishandling students' rape allegations while others have made headlines for instituting affirmative consent policies.

"Want to learn how to network with laser focus and incredible effectiveness? Meet Jamie Millard.

Two years ago, Millard took on the role of co-director of Pollen, a major Twin Cities networking nonprofit that had grown organically from humble beginnings. Under her leadership, Pollen has become a powerhouse for connecting entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and high-profile professionals throughout the metro, and now boasts over 10,000 members.

She and co-director Megan Murphy recruited a board of directors and launched a digital Web platform that provides a model for other networking organizations to follow.

Millard also lends her creativity and leadership to Paper Darts, a literary magazine she co-founded, and serves as chair of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network. Sought out nationally for her insights on social media and nonprofits, Millard demonstrates how networking should be done."

Who are the people on your must-meet list next year? The TCB 100 spotlights the business giants, the leaders with tons of potential and the up-and-comers to watch in 2015.

"One might wonder when Jamie Millard has time to breathe: Just five years out of college, she has launched and runs the literary magazine Paper Darts, doles out social media advice at conferences, engages social sector workers through the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network and sits at the helm of Pollen, an online community of more than 4,000 that shares civic-minded ideas and opportunities in Minnesota. Millard has plenty on her plate, but she keeps taking on more. Her next challenge? Building better-connected communities through sharing stories, opportunities and events."

Jamie Millard, a board member with the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, told me that groups that started out a few years ago to support young people through networking and professional development are “starting to think bigger about our role in the community … connecting with businesses and nonprofits to show these established organizations how our young groups can be an HR resource, to help keep their younger employees engaged in their work.” With the predicted leadership gap in Minnesota as older workers retire, Millard says these groups are asking, “How do we inspire, teach, and motivate young people to stay in Minnesota?” The question for nonprofits, she says, is “How will we engage the next generation of donors?”

Generation Now Leadership Visit — Milwaukee

An eye-opening, not life-changing but yeah totally life-changing, experience that brought together 55 Twin Cities emerging leaders across sectors and industries on an intense three-day trip to Milwaukee. Read fellow GNLVer Amanda Varley's recap and insights on the YNPN Twin Cities blog.

There's Jamie Millard, a 2009 college graduate who, like so many of her generation, was left unemployed, confused, and forced to innovate. As the main wage earner of her household, she built a new, non-traditional resume that highlighted what she considers her primary identity: a storyteller. She helps her fellow nonprofiteers "find context, connections, and a little more human depth in a continually shallowing space" as publisher and editor-in-chief of Pollen (Minnesota's leading professional community for civic-minded connectors) and publishes off-the-wall, humorous fiction in Paper Darts (the literary arts magazine that she directs and co-founded).

Instawhat:

Long story short:

Strong enough to bare the children /
Then get back to business.

maternity leave highlight reel: 🌷💕❤️⚡️🌈✨💦💫🌺🌻🌞

Did you know I’m the luckiest friend in the world? First, my friends are SO freaking talented. Last week we were watching Courtney slay on stage reading her poetry. This week we got to stand in front of Meg’s soul painted in the form of gigantic, amazons of power. Watching your friends soar in their own passions and talents has been one of the best gifts of my adult life. And it brings me such joy knowing my girls get to watch these friendships that I have as they grow up...a model for what all kinds of love can look like.

I really do love being a mother. (📸: @icecrmsocialite)

Water heals. ❄️💦❄️Much needed time in hot water with hot ladies. Thanks @alilozoff @pahoua.yang.hoffman @stephcurtismn

I have the best memories of my mom always getting me little love trinkets for Valentine’s Day and I absolutely cherished it. I’ve never cared much for the holiday as an adult or romantically, but now that I get to recreate that joy for robin, it’s just the best. Also, robin’s due date was February 14th! 🌷💕❤️💕🌷

omg there used to be a baby inside me. bodies are incredible. It’s been five weeks since my last workout and I’m energized to get back to the gym. Walking, running, weights, stretching... it’s a critical part of treating my rheumatoid arthritis. Just after a few laps on the track I could feel my joints opening up 🌷🌷🌷

Found this on my phone. 😂 Dani is pretty lucky to have robin as a big sister. #rodani

Dani one month vs Robin one month. 😂😂😂

Four weeks goes by fast when you spend the first quarter of it in a hospital! Dani has brought so much joy and peace to our hearts. She already has a very quiet, content confidence about her and I can’t wait to discover more about who she’ll become 🌷🌷🌷

Treatment starts today. Will be balancing all this medicine with continuing to implement an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise, and water therapy. Will also try to keep breastfeeding through this. Even though my inflammation markers are four times as high from April and I’m starting to see some organ damage in my heart, I’m feeling so optimistic 🎈🎈🎈

This is me trying to make a fist. It’s not possible. I no longer have pincher grasp in my right hand and almost no hand strength. The Rheumatoid Arthritis has also moved into my left wrist. Last night was the first time I wasn’t able to pick up Dani on my own or change her diaper. But tomorrow is a big day. It’s my first RA appointment postpartum and we get to assess damage and discuss treatment. It’s a new era in this journey and I couldn’t be more ready. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who has been supporting me with anti inflammatory foods and words of encouragement. And now that I’m past two weeks after birth, I can start slow work outs again. 🌿🌿🌿💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Saturday vibes at the Millards.

Dani is a week old 🎉🎊🌈🎈💕! It’s felt like a month, but we’re starting to find our way together in this new world. She’s almost back up to birth weight and is great at breastfeeding (even though I forgot how painful these first few weeks are 😫).

We’re back in the hospital. During our first night home with baby I started to feel bad. And just kept telling myself, but this is how it goes, this is supposed to be hard, you’re supposed to be in bad pain, you just had a baby!! By yesterday afternoon I knew it was something else. We took my temp and at 103 we headed to the ER. I was immediately admitted and lots of tests happened quickly. After a spinal tap, ct scans, and blood work the wonderful doctors found the uterine infection. Not sure when I’ll be able to leave the hospital, my fever keeps spiking, but I’m out of the “emergency hysterectomy zone” 😭😭. I’ve insisted on having Dani with me every second. She’s been perfecting her breastfeeding while I get stabbed and poked, but she’s getting me through this. I knew postpartum would be extra hard this time around because of the rheumatoid arthritis, but never could have imagined this. It’s taking a village to get me through all of this and so thankful to my husband, parents, and my girls @icecrmsocialite , @lexib1212 , and @cloudcarvings, who love my family like we are their own. Rand and I will be ringing in the new year at Methodist Hospital, and thanks to @meghanmcinerny we’ve got some sparkling juice to celebrate with! 🥂

You are so loved Dani Grace Millard! All my favorite people in the world have flocked to celebrate and support us. And Robbie is going to be the best big sister - she’s already perfected her lullaby of choice: “go to sleep my little baby.” It doesn’t get better than this. ~~ Dani was born 12/27 at 8pm and is beyond perfect. Labor started at home at 3am. Active labor started at 4pm. After two pushes, she was born at 8pm with no pain meds. I had a postpartum hemorrhage, but am recovering really well. We are all healthy and resting. Thank you all for the love and support these last few weeks. I’ve got a lot to figure out and navigate with my health in the near future, but this little nugget puts everything into perspective 🎈🎈🎈

I’ve had to retrain my brain that when my body hurts, I need to move. I need to run, walk, swim, lift weights. Just move. Over 40 weeks pregnant and still getting to my gym and feeling 💪🏼🎈

Happy due date to me! (and yes she’s still cozy in there). This holiday it’s been hard not to focus on my new limitations with the rheumatoid arthritis. The loss of use in my right hand made it so I couldn’t wrap presents for robin. That’s a little thing, but in moments it felt like a monumental sacrifice for someone like me who loves doing that little mom stuff. I also absolutely hate asking for help. But a few days ago I gave in, asked my mom to come over for few hours, and she wrapped all of the presents. 😭😭. Looking forward to learning how to receive more support as I journey into 2019. The feeling of gratitude is such a beautiful gift in of itself. I guess that’s part of what christmas has been teaching us all along. 🎈🎈🎈🎈

Last Christmas as a family of three. Becoming a parent has been the biggest joy of our lives. Grateful for this cozy family and soaking up every moment. Sending love from the Millard’s to you.